Lagos silk rubber, West African rubber tree
Funtumia elastica

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows up to 30 m high. The trunk is 50 cm across. The leaves are oblong and 6-27 cm long by 2-10 cm wide. The edges are wavy. The leaves are opposite. The flowers are tube shaped and green to white. The fruit are follicles 8-19 cm long. They are woody.

There are 2 Futumia species. They are in tropical Africa. It is a source of rubber.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in deciduous forest. It grows in drier regions and secondary forests. In Nigeria it has been recorded at 750 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, China, Congo, Dominica, East Africa, Gabon, Guinea, Guinée, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa (country/location of origin), Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ground bark is sold as a dietary supplement.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Bark, caution

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

It is fast growing. Plants flower and fruit November to March.

Its other names

Local names

Damba, Debo, Ire rubber, Ire, Mutondo, Ndamba, Ngonga, Pohon karet sutra, Sekelay, Yamoa

Synonyms

Kichxia elastica;